NATIONAL charity Samaritan’s Purse has extended its thanks to the local Regus centres at Sutton Harbour in Plymouth and Exeter Business Park, for their support in collecting thousands of gift-filled shoeboxes which have since been distributed to needy and vulnerable children around the world.

The shoeboxes, put together by members of the public, local businesses, schools and churches, contained everything from sweets and toys to toothbrushes and colouring books.

hey were distributed in time for Christmas to underprivileged children in orphanages, hospitals and refugee camps.

This is the second year that Regus, the global workplace provider, has been involved in the shoebox appeal with almost 300 of the company’s UK centres collecting over 5,000 shoeboxes between them.

Simon Barrington, Executive Director of Samaritan’s Purse, the charity which organises the Operation Christmas Child shoebox appeal, said: “We would like to thank the Regus network of local workplace centres for their support again this year, as well as all the members of the public who wrapped, packed and brought in their shoeboxes.

"Thanks to them, many thousands of children who otherwise wouldn’t have received any presents this Christmas knew they weren’t forgotten.” Richard Morris, CEO of Regus in the UK, said: “We’re delighted to have been involved in the appeal again this year and the response has been fantastic. Our centre teams across the UK thoroughly enjoyed taking part and doing their bit for such a worthwhile cause.”